by Denice Choka

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you…Numbers 6:24-25

It was my last delivery of the evening. I was on a street where I had not been before. When I pulled up to the house, there was a couple sitting on the front patio. When I asked them where they wanted the pizza, they said around the corner in the basement. When I turned the corner, it was dark and there were steep steps going down to what appeared to be a basement apartment. I stopped in my tracks and paused, it did not look safe for an over 50-year-old woman to be walking into this space.

At the top of the stairs, I said, “Hello, pizza delivery.” Then, an older woman came out of the door, the light turned on, and she asked me to bring the food down to her, so I did, cautiously. She directed me to the cash placed in a small box on the stairs, next to her cigarette lighter. When I handed her the 2-liter bottle of soda, she was troubled as she said she only ordered a 20 ounce. My mistake, I grabbed the wrong size bottle. I reassured her that she was only charged for the 20 ounce, “Ok”, she said.

The woman then shared that she was recovering from back surgery and could not move so well. My heart went out to her. I was thinking, how can she even get out of her apartment and climb those steep stairs. The next day, I got her a get-well card wishing her sunshine and blessings along with bright yellow sunflowers, signed the card from your pizza delivery driver, and placed it on her step. I included my cell phone number and offered my assistance in the event she may need a ride or an errand; please do not hesitate to call me, as I would be more than happy to help.

God has blessed me with good health. So much so, that I am working a second job delivering pizzas part-time in the evenings to help pay for my daughter’s college. While some people I know feel bad that I need to do this, I feel blessed that I am able to do this. God has me right where he wants me, and if I can touch peoples’ hearts, one person at a time, and God willing, giving hope to humanity.

… I went back to the house the next day. With apprehension, I walked along the path, opened the gate, walked down the steep stairs, placed the flowers and card on the step, knocked and ran back up the stairs. I did not want her to feel uncomfortable or that I was stalking her….

Approximately thirty minutes later, my phone rang….it was the woman from the basement apartment. She introduced herself as Carol. She was so touched. Carol said this was the nicest thing that ever happened to her. She shared that she did not have family here, did not drive, and would like to accept my offer to drive her to the pharmacy and grocery store. With me working two jobs, Saturday and Sunday are my only available times. When Carol told me that those are the exact days she needed a ride, I smiled. She told me that she would pay me for my time. I told Carol that I did not offer with the thought of receiving payment. She insisted. Wow, what a gift. The irony is that I was offering a gift to Carol, and in turn, I too am gifted. Carols’ parting words, ‘May the Lord shine brightly on you.’

May God bless us both!